DB Congress Exclusive Interview: "Riser" Songwriters - Part One

The day Dierks Bentley announced his new album, Riser, scheduled for a fall release, Twitter was all a buzz with excitement.  We started seeing Travis Meadows and Steve Moakler pop up in tweets with Dierks' name and the title of the album, which comes from a cut they wrote called, "Riser." It's a song about going through tough times, getting knocked down and fighting to get back up again and rise above it all.

It's also the first title song of an album since Modern Day Drifter that Dierks has not been a co-writer. But its a perfect match for Dierks, following the year of his father's death.

A few tweets and emails later and both songwriters agreed to answer a few questions for DB Congress about "Riser!" 

"We are on a journey, the endless cycle of life, love, loss, faith, freedom and family...We learn from our past, to define our future. Everyone has a defining moment in their life, a breakthrough moment, the moment you choose to be...a riser."

- Dierks Bentley

Travis Meadows, Co-writer, "Riser,"
title cut from Dierks Bentley's upcoming album, Riser

First up is Travis Meadows, whose Twitter bio says, "Riding comfortably under the radar," but don't let that fool you.  He's been through cancer, chemo, alcohol, drugs and more, but his talent pushed him to rise above it all.  Landing cuts with Jake Owen, Ronnie Dunn and Lee Ann Womack, and singing with raw emotion on his own albums, Travis is a true talent. Oh, and happy early birthday to Travis, Thursday, May 23!

DBC: What was your reaction when you heard Dierks Bentley was recording your song?

TM: I was blown away. I've been a fan of Dierks since I heard Lot Of Leavin Left To Do.

DBC:  What was co-writing with Steve Moakler like? Have you written together previously? What songs?

TM:  Steve is a great guy. He is young and very optimistic. We write great songs together. The first song we wrote together is "Wide Open" on my Old Ghosts and Unfinished Business album. I think he may record it, too.

DBC: How did the song make its way to Dierks? Did he hear it? Did you pitch it?

TM: Steve and I both write at Kobalt Music Publishing. Jeff Skaggs is one of the song pluggers there. I'm pretty sure he played it for the Dierks' camp.

DBC: What do you think Dierks’ treatment/interpretation brought to the song? Is it the same as your original or were changes made?

TM: I only heard it once but it was magic. They kept a lot of the vibe from my original demo but Dierks masterfully made it feel like his own. That’s what a true artist does.

DBC: Have you heard Dierks' final cut of the song? If so, how do you feel about that? 

TM: Hearing him sing it made me very proud to do what I do for a living.

DBC:  How much more special is having the title track than just an album cut?

TM: After hearing about the passing of Dierks’ dad it makes it even more special. I had the title track on a Lynyrd Skynyrd record a while back. This is even more meaningful to me because I've had a lot of personal challenges that I have lived through that make this record such a gift to me.

DBC: Tell us about the backstory –was the song inspired by any specific events? You just released your own EP, “Old Ghosts and Unfinished Business,” on May 7. Did you consider including ‘Riser’ on that compilation? It seems to fit the mood of the other 7 songs.

TM:  I always write like I'm working on my next record, because I write better songs when I do. When I try to predict what Dierks or Tim McGraw or whoever, wants to hear, those songs suck. I did in fact consider this track for the Old Ghosts and Unfinished Business record but I decided against it along with Jeremy Spillman who produced it. I'm glad we didn't put it on there now because Dierks killed it!

DBC: You also released “Killin’ Uncle Buzzy” in 2011. One of the reviews said, “Do your soul a favor, buy this album and listen to the whole thing start to finish—if you’re not moved I’ll give you $10.” What do you think about that?

TM:  I have made a lot mistakes in my life. There are two things in it that I am positive I did right. My son Josiah and Killin Uncle Buzzy. That record documents me getting sober and essentially getting my life back. I bled that record and anybody that hears it hears the honesty and it cuts straight to the heart. It touches me that it touches so many others.

DBC: How interesting that you used to tour with Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky on 'I Love Lucy'). What was that like? 

TM: Keith is an amazing man. We used to play in a couple of bands together and he is the best drummer in the world period.

DBC: Where did you grow up? When/why did you move to Nashville?

TM: I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. I moved here about ten years ago because I had two things on my list of thing to do before I die. One of which was to see if I could write with the best writers in the world and make a go of it.

DBC:   You’ve had many songs cut by well-known contemporary Christian artists, with a number one – Should’ve Been Lovin’ You-- cut by Jonathon Pierce, winning you an ASCAP Award in 2001—congratulations! How much of a chance do you feel ‘Riser’ has at getting to the number one country spot?

TM: I gave up on guessing what songs will do great and which ones won't. These days I leave it up to the people listening to the radio. I write every song as if it is the last one I will write and work very hard to make it great. Dierks is a star and a heck of a singer. I hope it is the biggest song either one of us has ever had.

DBC: Who else have you written for previously?

TM: Jake Owen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Dunn, Lee Ann Womack and High Valley to name a few. Also had a nice string of David and Giants back in the day on Christian radio.

DBC: Watching the video of you performing ‘Riser’ at the Red Clay Theater, I couldn’t click repeat fast enough! Your delivery of the line, “and honey I’m a fighter” was so powerful. Your voice sounds like a cross between Will Hoge and Bruce Springsteen (that’s a compliment!) Why haven’t we heard you on country radio?

TM: Maybe I started too late. I spent a lot of time in my 20's and 30's singing in churches and not pursuing country music. That was before the big fall. Several trips to rehab and jail later here I am making records playing shows for anybody that will listen.

DBC: A favorite part of the song is the bridge: “I’m a try-er// I’m a get down low so I can lift you higher//An army couldn’t keep back my desire.” How did that line come about?

TM: Me and Steve were in the middle of writing it and we knew we needed a few different words there. And they just kinda came out. Not sure where from.

DBC: Have you talked to Dierks recently? Tell us about that conversation.

TM: I got to write with him because of the song. It was a great day. We talked about love and our kids mostly. Sappy I know.

DBC: We can’t wait to hear the entire album! Do you have any other cuts on it?

TM: I wish I did because I have this gut feeling it’s gonna be his biggest one yet. He deserves it.

Travis also sent us the original lyrics:

Riser

Steve Moakler Travis Meadows

May 9 12

Lay your pretty head down on my shoulder

you don't have to worry any more

this old world is colder and getting colder

I know how to lock and bolt the door

Im strong enough to hold you through the winter

mean enough to stare your demons down

hard times put the shine into the diamond

I won't let it keep us in the ground

Im a riser

I'm a get up off ground

don't run and hider

push comes to shovin Im a fighter

when darkness comes to town Im a lighter

get out aliver of the fire

surviver

If we aint got money I can make it

I aint afraid of working to the bone

when i dont know what Im doing i can fake it

ill pray till jesus rolls away the stone

Im a tryer

Im a get Down low so i can lift you higher

an army couldn't Keep down my desire


*COMING SOON! Stay tuned for Part Two of the DB Congress exclusive interview with co-writer Steve Moakler.

~Ronna Clark
DB Congress Chair (FL)

Exciting New Album and Single News!

Today information was released about Dierks Bentley's 7th studio album, due this Fall. The album, titled Riser, promises to be his most personal yet, according to the press release. The title of the album comes from the song "I'm a Riser" that will be included on the set, and here's what Dierks has to say about the inspiration behind it:

“Life in general has a way of knocking you down,” Bentley says. “It’s different reasons for different folks – could be personal reasons, could be family reasons, your job, drugs, alcohol. That song really applies to anybody that’s lived. There have always been those moments when we have to get back up and get on our feet. They are defining moments…breakthrough moments.”

The album also finds Dierks going back to his roots, if you will, enlisting the help of executive producer Arturo Beunahora, Jr who produced his first two albums: the critically acclaimed self-titled debut, and equally acclaimed Modern Day Drifter.  Dierks also enlisted production assistance from Ross Copperman, who you'll remember was one of the songwriters for Dierks' most recent Top-5 hit "Tip it on Back."

You can read all about Riser here, and if you'd like to download the Riser logo (shown above) to be your Facebook or Twitter profile picture, you can go to Dierks.com. And here's a video teaser for the album as well!

In addition to exciting album news, rumor has it the lead single from the album is a tune called "Bourbon in Kentucky," written by Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, and Ryan Tyndell. Many thanks to CA DBC Rep Kristin Toon for tweeting the info and for asking about the song title in her m&g with Dierks on Saturday night! I've looked all over the web to find a video or audio link to the demo of the song, but unfortunately I haven't been able to find it. What I have been able to find, however, are a lot of positive comments about the song, and it sounds like a line in the chorus is "there's not enough bourbon in Kentucky to make me forget about you." Sounds like we might have a good old-fashioned heartbroke country song on our hands! Look for "Bourbon in Kentucky" to hit radio in the next few weeks - we'll keep you posted as soon as we know the exact date it's going to radio.

As for the songwriters, they are no strangers to the #1 spot on the charts, having penned such songs as Lady A's "American Honey," Sara Evans' "A Little Bit Stronger," Gary Allen's "Every Storm (Runs Out of  Rain)," and Eric Church's MASSIVE hit "Springsteen." Hopefully they'll be able to score another chart-topper with this new song from Dierks!

We hope you're as excited for this album and single news as we are, Congress! The rest of 2013 is looking to be exciting times in the world of Dierks. Stay tuned right here for all the latest news!

Carrie ~ DBC Rep/Chart Reporter ~ NC

Dierks Bentley's New Album To Be Titled "Home"

According to Bill Dean of the Gainesville Sun, Dierks Bentley's new album will be titled, "Home," named after the patriotic single just released  Monday of this week.  We've been hearing it was to be called, "Diamonds,"  but Dierks said in late August there was no title yet, so I guess we will all find out for sure when the album comes out in February.

"To follow up such a special album [Up On The Ridge], Bentley says he is taking his time on the followup recording, which is slated for release in February 2012 and will be called “Home” after the album's title track."

We spend a lot of time on the road, and every one of those little small towns feels like home one way or another because we've been there before, so I think the title kind of works for the album. And it is like coming back to country music, coming home.

Coming after this bluegrass record, I really needed to reconnect and figure out what I wanted to do with my next record,” Bentley says. “I've been writing some stuff for over a year, and the album doesn't come out until February.

I'm still writing to see if there's anything else that might be left from this batch of inspiration and creativity. So we'll see.

Dierks is performing in Gainesville tonight at the University of Florida's O'Connel Center, and I'll be DRT-ing (Dierks Road Trip), from Tampa to get there as soon as I can.  'Cause when a DBC rep wants to see her favorite artist, there ain't no way of gettin' there too fast!


~Ronna
DBC Chair
Florida

Bentley's New Album's Got A Lot More Kick

Dierks Bentley may be riding high on the acclaim his bluegrass-influenced Up on the Ridge album has earned — including multiple Grammy nominations — but the country star isn’t resting on his musical laurels.

Bentley and his producer Jon Randall Stewart have set up shop at a recording studio in Asheville, N.C., and plan to start work on a new album this coming week.

“I’m going to use the term kick (butt) to describe it,” Bentley said of his new material. “Everyone is asking me, ‘Is it bluegrass or country?’ I think you’re asking the wrong guy because I thought the last record was a country record with bluegrass influences. The simple answer is it just has a lot more kick. It will complement the other side of my career, the more commercial, fun, rocking stuff.”

Bentley said that while he normally writes the bulk of his own songs, he personally reached into the local songwriting community to find material for the new project.

“I’ve listened to at least 2,000 songs for the new record,” he said. “I feel like a Nashville (producer) right now because I’ve heard so many songs. I get people in my e-mail, where they send me a song and I listen to it on the spot and I send them an answer.”

Don't forget to visit dierks.com starting Sunday, January 30 to sneak a peek at Dierks in the recording process through a 24-hour live video-feed.

Source

DIERKS BENTLEY NEW ALBUM, "UP ON THE RIDGE" ON SALE THIS SUMMER

New Album News: "Up On The Ridge" Posted by morgan on 08 Mar 2010 in News (http://dierks.com/news/new-album-news-ridge)

Singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has said many times that if he hadn’t discovered bluegrass, he’d never have become a country singer or landed a record deal. His love for country was kindled by the energy and artistry of bluegrass, and he’s never lost his passion for it.

Now, seven years into one of the most distinguished and critically acclaimed country careers of modern times, Bentley has plunged deeply into acoustic roots music. The results of that creative journey will come out this summer as the very special new album Up On The Ridge.

Much more than just a bluegrass concept album with guests, Up On The Ridge features Bentley working with some of the finest acoustic musicians in the world, including long-time collaborators the Del McCoury Band and a magical new musical partnership with Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. The disc also features a number of vocal and instrumental contributions ranging from Alison Krauss and Miranda Lambert to Tim O’Brien and Sam Bush, among many others.

“This album won’t come as a surprise to my hard core fans,” says Bentley. “They've asked me: ‘when are you going to make a bluegrass record?’ And I was just waiting for the right time.” So with a grueling tour behind him, Bentley felt liberated to pursue the project. And for his career home, Capitol Nashville, Up On The Ridge represents a rare and exciting opportunity to capture an artist working entirely from the heart.

“I didn’t want this to be ‘Dierks Bentley and friends’ or a ‘Dierks does bluegrass’ kind of album. I wanted each song to have something special about it, and in the end I think each song really does have its own thing going on.”

Those songs came from Bentley’s proven pen, as well as some unexpected sources, such as Bob Dylan. Working with an award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Jon Randall Stewart and world-class recording engineer Gary Paczosa, Bentley has crafted an album with rooted familiarity as well as big surprises. “It’s my version of bluegrass music,” he says. “It’s not just banjos cranked up to eleven. It throws out a big net.”

In the 1950s and 60s, bluegrass and country music overlapped, living side by side on the radio and in record bins. Even though that’s rarely the case today, Bentley sees no reason why he shouldn’t be able to pursue all the styles that influenced who he is as an American musician. He is clearly destined for a long career, and Up On The Ridge is likely to be regarded as one of its highlights.

DIERKS TALKS NEW ALBUM NEWS

DB CONGRESS EXCLUSIVE: NEW VIDEO FROM DIERKS

If you're in the Dierks Bentley Fan Club, Dierks is giving the DB Congress a sneak peek at a brand new video from the man himself, where he talks about his new album, new website and more. This video will be released to the public on Monday, but we wanted you guys to be the first to see it. Go to dierks.com, Community, then Fan Club to view.

After it's released to the public, we'll edit this blog and post it here.

So join the Fan Club to view today!